Cupping for Weight Loss: My First Experience with Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is an ancient medical practice that has been used in China for thousands of years. There are many health benefits of cupping therapy you may never knew, including weight loss.

Circulation is the process of bringing blood, oxygen and hormones to and from cells in the body to nourish it and help to fight diseases, and stabilize body temperature and pH. Poor blood circulation can develop a variety of health problems such as headaches, feeling tired much of the time, feeling short of breath at times, swelling and water retention - especially in the feet, etc. Poor blood circulation caused by a lack of proper nutrition, and acid toxins within the body.  Cupping is not only an excellent natural remedy to relieve muscle pain, practitioners believe this is also an effective way to clear your body of toxins, stimulates energy, relieve constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and encourage healthy blood flow. Healthy blood flow can help you lose weight by encourage nutrients in your body supplied to your muscles in a more efficient manner.

But when I decided to try cupping therapy, weight loss is not my motive. I did this to alleviate headaches. When I first heard about cupping therapy, I was a bit hesitant just like most of people who are afraid of the sight of blood but I decided to give it a go anyway. Nothing to be scared actually. The process isn't painful and quickly goes.

WARNING!!! May contain some disturbing images to some readers.

There are two types of cupping: dry cupping and wet cupping (controlled bleeding). Wet cupping is significantly more effective according to the practitioner. Cupping used are plastic or glass to replace the horn, pottery, bronze and bamboo cups used in earlier times. The cups can be various shapes. RM20 per cup.

Cups used during my cupping session. Made of glass with an extension at the top to accommodate a rubber squeeze ball which when squeeze and released pulls air, followed by skin up into the vacant area.

The cupping therapy process

Step 1 - Massage

The practitioner massage my skin for 2 minutes to find out which points are painful and tender, and especially which points are the tenderest. It's where she will place the cups.

Step 2 -  Air cupping

Massage oil applied to create a better seal as well as allow the cups to glide over muscle groups. I had it done five on  my shoulder and one on my head. I had my hair shaved at the cupping area. My husband was like, why on the head? The trigger points that cause headaches are somewhere at the shoulders area and you can try cupping at that particular area, he merely says. Not necessarily on the head. The practitioner suggested me doing cupping on the head because I told her I need a pain relief from a headache. So I thought why not if it could stop a throbbing headache. Hair grows, anyway. The shaved area on my head can't be seen after some hair trick. So it's not a big deal for me.

Shaved area on my head

The hubs: He got an arm dislocation in a car accident he involved in
not long time ago. He always complained about stiff shoulder.
It looked like the cupping mark on that spot are the darkest. 

The modern version of dry cupping does not include the risk of fire and heat

The traditional cupping use flame to heat the air inside of the cup to create suction. But the more modern version of cupping they used here does not include the risk of fire and heat, so my mind can be at peace. Plus it doesn't hurt! The air is withdrawn by means of a squeeze-rubber balloon attached through a tube. When pinched the balloon expels air so that as it re-expands it draws air out, creating suction to draw skin up inside. The cup is left in place for 3 to 4 minutes. Dry cupping can dispels trapped wind that cause muscle and joint pain. The cups at this process looked steamy believed to be an expelled wind.

Step 3 - Superficial skin incision

The cup removed, then the practitioner usually poked the cupped area with lancet needle, a pricking needle which often use to collects blood sample. Puncture done is just below the skin's surface approximately 0.1 mm depth. But the practitioner where I went to use razor blade instead of needle to create a small skin incision. Between razor blade and needle, I am not sure which is the best. I have no idea that I can choose between this two method. Since this is my first time, I didn't ask further.

The hubs: Right after the small skin incision was made

The hubs asked about this when he had his cupping session the next day. The practitioner explained that using razor blade is better. The process of drawing out blood, according to the lady is much quicker and in most cases of diabetes patients, the cuts heals much faster. Using razor blade method is not painful as it seems. I just felt a little ticklish when she performed this but the things I'm not okay with is it left unwanted incision mark. The mark is actually less obvious except when you take a closer look at it. They completely gone after weeks.

I thought the incision mark may not visible, I was wrong. 

You can choose whatever method that feels more comfortable for you. Don't forget to tell your therapist of which method you wanted to use.

Step 4 - Wet cupping 

Cups are again left in place for 3 to 10 minutes and mild suction performed to draw a small quantity of blood out of the wounds. This process is done twice.

Mild suction performed to draw a small quantity of blood out of the wounds.

Yuck! A clot of dark blood would begin accumulating in the cup

Mine (left) and the hubby's cup (right): I merely tease him saying his blood is thicker than mine because there are too many buildup of toxins in his body 

Mr Hubby's cups are almost full 

Orangish crystal-like "things" that can be seen in the drawn blood
indicate the presence of uric acid

Oily and watery blood indicates high level of cholesterol in the body

The colour and amount of the blood drawn to the surface depending on the degree of toxicity in the muscle tissue. Dark blood is a sign of stagnation, which in many cases in modern terms is the amount of toxins in the blood. People who depend on hospital medicines for years may found his blood black, the practitioner told me. Orangish crystals like colour that found in the blood is a signs of uric acid.

Step 5 - Cupping mark

Although the resulting marks can look alarming, it is temporary and will fade. Mine eventually disappear in about a week. The length of time that cup marks persist usually reflects the level of circulation of blood in each patient’s system and the ability of their body to properly detoxify.

The cupping mark on my skin (left) and the hubby (right): According to the practitioner dark colour of the cupping mark indicates the toxicity level in the body

Skin reaction after cupping

Bruce Bentley, the foremost international expert on the history and practice of cupping said, the marks the cups leave do have a meaning.

"All the changes that arise are pathogenic factors brought to the body surface. And they are certainly not “bruises” as far too many people believe. This is a big question so let’s just cover some issues in brief. Different colours are explicit indicators of the conditions within the body. A dark purple or even black marking always shows that there is deep-seated blood stasis. This will occur over an area with an unresolved longterm injury. Qi deficiency is indicated by the area remaining neutral or paler than the surrounding skin surface, after cupping. Coldness is a light mauve discolouration. Sha also frequently shows up at the skin surface after cupping, though not as much as after gua sha, because it is more thoroughly drawn out and released by the process of scraping. Cups can also draw up dense knotty purple masses, like varicosed lumps, from the body."

"One case where these turned up was on a woman’s scapula. After treatment she had great relief and said that since childhood she’d always had a problem in the area, ever since her mother had yanked her arm very hard and dislocated her shoulder. The cups drew out this old trauma and she has been fine since."

An antiseptic cream will be applied to the incisions after cupping.

Side Effect 
No major side effects aside from skin cuts. One month after the cupping therapy, I had no more headache. I am feeling more peace and relaxed. I am sure to come back for another cupping session.

Cupping Dos & Don'ts
The practitioner lady told me that cupping therapy is perfectly safe and no rules to be followed. However from some of my readings, I learned that cupping should not be done on infants, neither should it be done on the very young or the very old. And cupping is contraindicated in pregnancy, since it strongly activates and disperses the blood.

You can eat whatever you want however it is best to consume low fat and wholesome food in the 2 days prior to your treatment. Just like my husband said, it's a waste of money if you try a detox treatment but pay less attention on what you put in your mouth.

Do not eat and drink anything at least three hours prior to the treatment so that the body is not occupied with digesting food. It is best to eat healthy food 24 hours before and after treatment. Drink plenty of fluids prior to this period.

Cupping vs Blood Donation

Dead and stagnant blood cells accumulate in the capillaries near the surface of the skin. This stagnant blood is pretty much useless and takes up space which could be utilized by fresh clean blood. Cupping therapy is a process to remove this toxic blood and promotes the circulation of fresh blood.

The cuts are very light. The body heals the area very quick and the blood will stops coming out automatically. So don't worry about the possibility of all your blood being pump out. :)

Cupping Therapy vs Blood Donation. Source: alhijamah

Has anybody tried the cupping therapy? Does it work for you? 

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[Book Review]: Childhood Obesity: 4 Sure-Work Ways to Keep Children at a Healthy Weight

I used to gets particular upset with my kids every mealtime, they won't finish their foods. I'm upset because unfinished foods means food waste. I always feel guilty about wasting food. My mom said, 'children do not need as much food as adults. They just need about half the portion of an adult.' 'If you continue serving them large portion of food, they will tend to eat bigger portion sizes,' says mom.

Practicing healthy portion control is important to keep children at their healthy weight. Lesson learned #1. Thanks mom. As a matter of fact, I'm afraid the kids didn't get enough food, or maybe they will get hungry before next meal so I always try to provide them enough food to eat and make sure they finish it. Portion sizes are often overlooked!

In the United States, 1 in every 3 kids is overweight or obese. This is an alarming statistic! Obese children tend to remains obese as an adult. Obesity is a health concern since it increases the risk of serious medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and many more.

As parents or other concerned adults, what steps can we take to help prevent obesity in our children?

1. Keeping portion size under control

I have learned how to determine portion sizes for my kids. It's also important for me to help them learn to take responsibility for their own portions. Teach the kids portion sizes by using your hand.

2. Healthier alternatives

If you do have a child or children who have weight issues, never talk to them about diet and exercise. This is based from my own experience, it will really impact them in a negative, emotional way. What you can do is find healthier alternatives. For example, if they like sweet foods, start having them eat more fruit. Maybe dip bananas or strawberries in dark chocolate. Create a supportive environment. Move tempting foods out of sight in cupboards or in the refrigerator. Find a fun workout DVD you can do together as a family.

3. Teach nutrition to children

Start showing them how to read the labels. Let them help you prepare healthy food. Tell them about what you are making and why it’s good for your body.

3.Be a good role model

If your children see you eating your vegetables, being active, and limiting your TV time, there’s a good chance that they will do the same. These habits will also have the happy side effect of helping you maintain a healthy weight.

4. Distributes educational materials

Having a friendly children's books can inspire children and parents to eat healthier and live more nutritionally fit through education. My children and I are currently reading a book "Larvie Learns a Lesson."

About the Book: "Larvie Learns a Lesson"

Larvie Learns a Lesson written by Mickey Seger, MD, Melinda V. Gonzales, PA-C, and Terive Duperier, MD. They work in a medical practice in San Antonio called the Bariatric Medical Institute of Texas (BMI of Texas) and are specializes in medical and surgical weight management. Concern were raised about children being overweight or obese. Hence this book is use as a way of teaching children of what to eat and what not to eat, making them more aware of the consequences of their bad choices.

Larvie Learns a Lesson tells the story of a caterpillar that had eating habits that he does not realize are unhealthy until he finds himself in a dilemma. He breaks his bad eating habits and exercise more with the help of his doctor. His healthy lifestyle does not only cures his high blood and diabetes, he also becomes an inspiration to his fellow bug friends.

This book has only 15 pages and has great, colorful illustrations. The prints are large, and widely spaced making the words easier to read. This is a younger children's brilliant book for reading with parents. My younger child is not reading yet, but he enjoys the book and loves for me to read to him. Since he cannot read it for himself, the next best thing is to memorize it. This book has becomes his favorite and he wants to hear me read the book over and over. I think it's perfectly normal for preschooler to want to hear the same book over and over again. Moments like this are important opportunities for parents or teacher to teach the children about healthy habits. Children are watching characters from school reading books and library books, as models.

If you're interested to have this book as your educational support material or if you need more information about healthy living and managing obesity, check out BMI of Texas.  

Do you have any other ideas, what steps can we take to help prevent obesity in our children? 

Please write your thought in the comments.

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"Bekam" Cupping Therapy: Top 4 Untold Health Benefits of Cupping Therapy

Who are fans of Gwyneth Paltrow here? She caused a stir at a New York film premiere back in 2004 when she arrived with visible cupping marks on her back. And maybe some of you have seen the photos of Jennifer Aniston last year stepped onto the red carpet with what looked like cupping marks on her back? Is cupping just another Hollywood trend? It's normal what celebrities are doing will always gain public attention and no surprise if later it become trends. Cupping therapy has actually been around for hundreds of years. It is an ancient practice of alternative medicine.

History of Cupping 

According to Chinese Cupping site, cupping was an ancient Taoist medical practice and was widely used in the courts of Imperial China back from the year 281 AD. Its administration was first recorded by Ge Hong, a practicing Taoist, an alchemist, and a famous medicinal herbalist during his time. 

During those times, they used animal horns for cupping. Some consider the Chinese to be responsible for cupping, however its true origin still remains uncertain to this day.

Papyrus Ebers, an Egyptian medical papyrus dating around 1550 BC detail the earliest use of cupping for treating fever, pain, vertigo, menstrual imbalances, weakened appetite and helping to accelerate the healing crisis.

Benefit of Cupping

Almost all of us have had a headache some time in our lives. I gets headaches few days just before my period starts. Not really serious but they can be so uncomfortable. As a mom with two kids to take care of, I cannot afford to be sick. I thought it may be just one of the PMS symptom. This is because of the natural drop in oestrogen levels at these times. It will be gone after my period is over. But lately headaches have become more frequent. I have being getting painful headaches right after my period is over. I can describe the pain as throbbing, pounding, or pulsating and at some point make me feel like nauseated. No, it is not migraine if you ask me. I have a friend who have been a migraine sufferer, and I am not feeling the symptom she describe when migraine attack is coming. Maybe the headache caused by trapped wind? Women who already had childbirth experience are more prone to trapped wind, say the old folks. Or perhaps it's a toxic headache?. We are living in a toxic environment. No matter where we live or how careful we are, we cannot avoid.

One day, I decided to try wet (blood) cupping. It was a spontaneous decision. The reflexology saloon I happened to stop by that day did not offer body massage service. I felt so sick that day and I think I needed a massage for some relieve. They recommended me the cupping therapy instead. Out of the blue I said, OK. I am actually afraid of blood. My decision could be under the influence of pain. Haha~ I could not bear to walk further to find the nearest massage spa. A month later: no more headache since cupping!

The other benefit of cupping: 

1. Relaxing

Cupping is much like the inverse of massage. Rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in targets acupuncture points for about ten minutes to provide relief through pressure.

2. Detox

Cupping is an excellent way to perform lymphatic drainage massage. By using suction and negative pressure, massage cupping releases rigid soft tissue and drains excess fluid and toxins.

3. Improve your blood circulation

Cupping stimulates blood circulation to stagnant skin and muscles and relieve muscle and joint pains, sedate the nervous system (which makes it an excellent treatment for high blood pressure). Good blood circulation can also help ease insomnia.

4. Clear your lungs

This treatment is also valuable for the lungs, and can clear congestion from a common cold or help to control a person's asthma. Three thousand years ago, in the earliest Chinese documentation of cupping, it was recommended for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

The Risk

There are two main forms of cupping therapy: dry and wet (controlled bleeding). According to the therapist, wet cupping is the fastest, most effective method to move congestion and sluggishness in the body compared to dry cupping. While cupping is relatively safe, the treatment may be slightly painful or even cause burns in some cases.

As much as I love cupping and this practice may be hot in Hollywood, not everyone will enjoy it and not everyone is suitable for cupping. Do your research or consult with doctor before undergoing cupping treatment.

Don't forget to read my first experience with cupping therapy in the next post.

Has anybody tried the cupping therapy?

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The Get Moving May Challenge

May is here! A short update on my Slim-Possible-April Challenge: FAIL. I am basically lose and gain throughout the month of April and yesterday my scale said I weigh 76 kg, 2 kg gain since I started the April weight loss self-challenge. 

Excerpted from my previous post Slim Possible April Challenge

Looking at the bright side, I am glad that I've done the 100 Squats a Day Challenge for 20 days I started in the middle month of Slim-Possible-April Challenge. It was not a total success for me as I didn't went 20 straight days. But something is better than nothing, isn't it? I didn't see myself as a failure, though. "You're never a failure until you quit." I am not a failure until I stop trying. That is why I'm all excited about May. I'm really looking forward to a very productive, positive month.

Samantha of 24to30 have teamed up with Jen, Carly, and Anna to bring a May Fitness Challenge to keep everyone motivated right before the start of summer! The challenge is super easy and you have the chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card at the end.

MAY #20X31 FITNESS CHALLENGE 

1. Move your body for 20 minutes every single day in May.
2. It can be anything you want - walking, dancing, cleaning your house, whatever you want!
3. For accountability, join the linkup party host by these lovely ladies every Friday in May to share how the challenge is going and to help keep each other motivated.
4. $20 Amazon gift card up for grabs, if you need extra motivation. You get one entry for every Friday post you link up with them!
5. You can also earn additional entries by using the hashtag #20x31 on social media and tagging any of the hosts mention above (one entry per day per form of social media).

Joining a challenge is a great way to stay committed and get serious about losing weight or staying fit with a huge payoff.

Would you join this challenge? 

And if yes, tell me in the comments what do you expect to lose or gain on this Fitness Challenge?

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Blog Post Ideas - 31 Days of Weight Loss Writing Prompts for May

We all get stuck in our blogging journey, sometimes. Even the most inspired bloggers suffer periods of "writer’s block" from time to time. Here are 31 weight loss related blog post ideas to inspired you when you're out of ideas.

31 DAYS OF WEIGHT LOSS WRITING PROMPTS

1. How do naturally thin people stay that way?
2. How Can a Food Diary Help You Lose Weight and Healthier?
3. Who inspired you to lose weight?
4. Name the most stressful thing about losing weight.
5. How to make losing weight fun?
6. Snack on a diet: What's your take on snacking in secret?
7. What would you do if you could lose weight once and for all?
8. What is your favorite snack? Why?
9. Why can't you quit snacking on junk food?
10. Better to cut calories or exercise more?
11. Do you think a workout of 20 minutes/day is enough to lose weight?
12. If I can't exercise – for real – will I still lose weight?
13. Telling others that I am dieting makes me feel…
14. Inspirational weight loss quotes that help me most with weight loss.
15. Dieting will no longer be important to me when…
16. What would you eat if all foods were not fattening?
17. Name 10 fun things you want to do when you lose weight.
18. Are you afraid to lose weight? Why?
19. Describe your secret fear about dieting and losing weight.
20. Are low carbohydrate diets (like the Paleo diet, the Adkins Diet and the South Beach Diet) really the best?
21. Why weight loss is important to your health?
22. Why weight loss is important to your spirit?
23. Is sugar really bad for you?
24. Is weight really a matter of "calories in, calories out?"
25. What can schools do to promote better health in students?
26. What can be done to help children keep a healthy weight?
27. Is surgery a good option for people to lose weight?
28. Are sugar substitutes helpful for dieting?
29. Foods that makes me feel wonderful in my body.
30. What to Wear While Losing Weight?
31. Visualize Yourself Thin: How do you see yourself one year from now?

Use the daily prompts as a source of inspiration for your writing, journaling, video or photography — make them work for you. Please come back and leave a link in the comments when you use it so I can share in the fun.

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